Lift equalizing repair dock



c. M. ZOLL 2,325,994

3 Sheets-Sheet l r gmc/wm Filed July 23, 1941 1 .www L lr. lu.. :Lnb: \-..\.|.,H.,...w...m---dim---u---nmnhwvbmniwjmwd-Hlm.

LIFT EQUALIZING REPAIR DOCK Aug. 3, 1943.

Aug. 3, 1943.

C. M. ZOLL LIFT EQUALIZING REPAIR DOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1941 Aug. 3, 1943,

c. M. zo|

LIFT EQUALIzgNG REBAIR Docx s sheets-sheet s lFiled July 23, 1941 l. g water Patented Aug. 3, 1943 Application Jiliy ZL, 1941, Serial No. 403,770

ich are used s' ifps lsuch as dry-docks, floating the invention Vlosing preit eeuelizng dock.V herein refe 33. te are those ere so constructed-that they be eiiged to receive e ship and eo to i4 t the ship occve the wete-r; these y5 bei snaiiy eccomniishefi by itto the be.

such dosi/cs ere'provi lle-nd, the ship is lines, pumping water bail-est out u tii the miesen-.cy necessary to iii-t the ship is attained.

Ttieciiy-doci: here is tiiattype-oi doeii wherein tif-le cieck fioer is sufficiently eeiow Water level to admit the ships to be eoaireii, at ieest at high water, ene. which have en opening et one end closed by a gate after the sliip is admitted.V In this type of dock: it nsti-sito pump the Water out after the gate is closed aiti'iougii in iosa-tions `wht-ire there is considerable rise and fail of the tide thecpeiation may be assisted or eve-n accomplished by aiiowing ou*- Warcl flow of the Water within tli-edcck under the inuengce of gravity. j

Wet clocks for ship repairs are ordinarily used by iightening the ship to be repaired until the injured parts are exposed. With such operations there is neoessariiy a ii'znit to which a vship can 'neraisefl antifa ship requiring repairs tcits ofthe iower parts of its sides can only ioe repaired, if et all, icy the usefcf divers.k

in using iioating docks and dry-docks itis necessary to support the ship from the iioor of the clock in such manner that, when' dry; `tire ship will not list teorie sicie ci' the other; Itis also necessary that the supports for the Weight of the snipbe so distributed. that each iviii carey its proper propotion of the load. This is usuoily eccompiished by building up on the fico-i' of the dock, while the letter is 'free of Weiter, a'seri-es of soaced supports formed. `of lfieavy timo-eis se-r cured together endweislited orenciioseci suoi; manner that they will not float or otherwise dispiaced when Water is'admittecl to the'fiock. Since ships loottems are of various shapes and siiips Weights are 'not eveni'y distributed from bow to stern the distributionyiieiglts if" herpes of these supports or biockings reso! mncii care in the calculation ofsuch heights and locations and errois in the calculation will, it has often happened, result in serious damage the ship. The setting of lslioii blockings is consequently a, slows-ncl expensive job each time a ship is ii-ockecl.` i V- est chem-'eers with wml-rch i1 ciaims. (cisl-,6m

@It is one-o the inwovtent objects oi the presont inver; to provi@ @locks-such Wet docks, dry-docks and loating docks, with novel .ship supporting means whereby the stresses diie to n fig or snpportng a -siilp in tiieeir wiil ibs uniiorrniy distributed.

VA second importent object ci the invention is to provide e novel Aerrangement fof-.such support ing Ineens wherein tine lifting ari :supporting stresses will be automatically equeiizeci.

A thir importent object Ao1" the invention is to` provide 'a novel dock arrangement wherein liydrauiio jacks eiect the lifting and supgoorting oi the ship using the .dooie AY feint-ii important obiect oi the invention is to provide a-novei arrangement oi hydraulic asks for supporting elshipin a. dock wherein iii-ie iacks are so inteifconnectedthet the pres seres in the 4several jacks are automatically equalizefi.: l

l e.` ship is supported in e flock on blocking and it is cesired to scrape the bottom to renieve marine growths and old paint for repaintingA it is necessary, unless unscrapeci spot-sare to` be left, to remove and rebuiid the blocking. With the presentY method this removal of a bioeking throws undue ica-d on the blockings` adiacent `to that removed. A

Itis also desirable at times to remove one or more blockings in order to removes. 'broken plate and replace it by aA new one. With the use of tiieordinery `type of blocking this puts unequal l ica/ds on the-remaining blockin-gs.

l A fifth important object of this invention is to vpiffwifie 's nio-vel iiydrauiic jack arrangement for supporting ships in e clock wherein any one of the jacks may oe disconnected ircinpiessure tmixsmittiiig connection with the other jacks and perforznii'ig operations on the ship. Y

ail-owed to coliapse so es to be out of the Way in A six-th important object of the invention is to yse smerige the connectionbetweer liydrauiic jacks supporting a ship in a dock that if one iack be cutout the Weight intended to be carried by thecut out jack Wiiiibe eveniy distributed ori Y v the line l-S of Figure l.

"i are provided with valves 23.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal median section through a iloating dock showing a ship supported on the improved jack arrangement.

Figure 2 is a plan view of such'a dock with the piping shown somewhat diagrammatically.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverseV section on Figure fr L an enlarged plan view of a portion ofil the piping Vand several jacks connected thereby. l Y

Figure 5V is a fragmentary View partly in section and partly in elevation and showing to enlarged scale one of the jacks used herein.

Figure 6 is a view still further enlarged,`partly l in section and partly in elevation and showing a ball and socket arrangement vfor-the hull engaging members of the Vjacks used in this invention.

Figure 'I is a Viewl similar to Figure 3 reduced scale and showing'the jack arrangement for a wet dock, the arrangement being such as to permit lifting of arship as high as desired and veven clear of the water.

the dook.

As here shown the bottom I@ of the dook is in the form of hollow chambers, the upper wall of the middle chambers providing a dock floor I I. Rising from the sides of this bottom are dock walls i2. Arrangements are made for admitting water into-the dock bottom, to sink the dock low enough to admit a ship, and to pump out such water to raise the dock but as such arrangements form no part of the Ypresent invention and are old and well known they are not shown inthe drawings since they would only tend to complicate the disclosure.

Securely fixed on the floor II rare a multiplicity of hydraulic jacks VI3 which are arranged preferably in longitudinal rows, and a number of jacks and rows being employed as may be necessary to suit theV size of the dock and the sizeand weight of the largest ship to be docked. Preferably the jacks are evenly spaced in each row with the jacks ofthe several rows in ltransverse alignment.' Longitudinal pipes I4 connect Y the jacks of each row in series and transverse pipes I5 connect the jacks in transverse lines. A supply pipe I6 extendsacross one end of the dock and supply headers il extend from the pipe I6, and branches i8 extend to the individual jacks. Across the other end of the dock is an exhaust or drain pipe IS from which drain headers 2i! extend alongthe rows of jacks and are connected to the individualjacksrby branch pipes EI. Between each adjacent pair of jacksthe pipes I4 are provided with valves 22 and the pipes Each branch pipe I8 is provided with a valve 24 and-'each branch pipe 2l is provided with a valve 25. The pipey IV communicates with a pump v26 and theI Y located below this floor although, for convenience g are opened.

but' 'te in operating the valves, the valve stems may extend through the floor and be provided with operating handles above the floor.

In operation, assuming that the ship S is of such size as shorter than necessary for use of the jacks at the ends of the dock. Such jacks are those indicated at A for the ship shown in Figure 1. We may also assume that the jacks are all in their lowered or collapsed positions. The inlet Valves '24 for the jacks A are closed and all other valves 24 are opened. The exhaust valves 25 for kthe jacks A are opened and all other valves 25 are closed. The valves 22 and 23 in the pipes l and I5 directly connected to the jacks A are closed and all other valves 22 and 23 The pump is now started and pumping is continued until the system has been supplied with suiicient oil to cause the jacks open to receive oil from the pipe I6 to ll to about one-'half the extent of their movements. The valves 2li, formerly open, mayl now be closed leaving those jacks to be used in free communication with each other through the pipes IG and S5 which are of sucient size to have little frictional resistance to the flow of the oil. The dock may now be sunk to the desired extent and the ship moved into the dock and there suitably moored. The dock next has the water ballast pumped out with the result that it rises beneath the vessel and the jacks come in Contact With the hull. Since these jacks freely communicate and are of equal capacity they will contract or expand in conformity with the shape of the ship, each jack supporting an equal weight of said ship. Thus the lift on the ship will be equalized throughout.

As a means of illustrating selective operation of the. jacks the ship S of Figure 1 has been shown as having a break in its hull over the jack B. Unless this break is so known that the jack B is cut out like the jacks A before beginning operations the jack B, carrying the load, Will expand to its limit as shown by dotted lines. To lower this jack the valve 2li and valves 22 and 23 pertaining to the jack B are closed and the valve 25 for jack B is opened which allows the oil to drain olf and the jack to collapse. Similarly any other jack may be lowered as for scraping or otherwise treating a spot on the hull covered by the jack head. Such temporarily lowered or collapsed jack may be restored to weight supporting position by simply manipulating the valves` to restore them to normal operating position, the restored jack receiving oil from the remaining jacks and again equalizing the reaction of all jacks on the ships hull.

The form of the device suitable for use in a wet dock is schematically shown in Figure 7 wherein hydraulicjacks 29 each having a series of telescopic sections are employed so that, when fully expanded they may lift a ship S clear of the water, the showing in Figure 7 indicating the ship as only partly lifted. The pipe connections 30 and means for supplying andv exhausting oil are identical with the previous forms, but, if desired, remotely controlled valves of ordinary type may replace the valves used in the first form. Obviously any of the well known remote control devices may be used in either form for actuating the valves.

As illustrative oi" a jack type suitable for use in this invention-reference is had to Figures 5 and 6 wherein is shown a jack body 3i having adjacent lits upper end an annular internal rib 32. In this jack body is a plunger 33 fitting closely within the-rib and having a stop flange 34 at its lower end engageable with the rib 32 to limit the `upward movement of the plunger. A stufiing box device 35 is provided to prevent leakage of oil around theplunger. At the upper end of the plunger 33 there is provided a hemi-spherical,

socket 36 wherein lits a ball 36 having a stem 31 carrying a disk-like head 38. The ball is held in the socket by keeper ring sections 39 securedto Vthe plunger by bolts 4Q. By this means the head,

said iloor, pressure equalizing pipes connecting y each jack of a` row with the adjacent jacks of the row and each jack of a row with the corresponding jacks of the next adjacent rows, and a control valve interposed in each equalizing pipe.

2. In a ship repair dock having a floor, a series of rows of spaced hydraulic jacks mounted on said iloor, pressure equalizing pipes connecting each jack of a row with the adjacent jacks of the row and eachjack of a row with the corresponding jacks of the next adjacentrows, aV control valve interposed in each equalizing pipe, and piping supplying actuating iluid to said jacks.

3. In a ship repair dock having a floona series of rows ofspaced hydraulic jacks mounted on said iloor, pressure equalizing pipes connecting rality of rows of spaced hydraulicy jacks, said rows extending longitudinally of the floor and the jacks of each row being transversely opposite 'each other, Aequalizing pipes connecting the jacks of each row in series and provided with a valve between each pair of jacks in the row, and equalizing pipes connecting the jacks of the several rows in lateral lines and having valves interposed inthe last mentioned pipes between each jack of a row and the corresponding jack of the adjacent row,V

V8. In a ship repair dock having a floor, a plul rality of rows of spaced hydraulic jacks, said rows extending longitudinally of the iloor and the jacks of each row being transversely opposite each other, equalizing pipes connecting the jacks of each row 4in series and provided with a valve between each pair of jacks in the row, equalizing pipes connecting the jacks of the several rows in lateral lines and having valves interposed in the last mentioned pipes vbetween each jack of a row and the4 corresponding jackothe adjacent row, piping supplying actuating fluid to said jacks individualljnand means to drain said jacks individually. 1 Y A 9. In a ship repair dock having a floor, a plurality of rows of spaced hydraulic jacks, said rows extending longitudinally of `Vthe floor and the jacks of each row being transversely opposite each other, equalizing pipes connecting the jacks of each row in series and provided with' a valve between each pair of jacks in the row, equalizing each jack of a row with .the adjacentV jacks of the row and each jack of a row with the corresponding jacks of the next adjacent rows, a cony piping supplying actuating fluid to'sai'd jacks,

and drainage means for said jacks.

5. In a ship repair dock having a door, a series of rows of spaced hydraulic jacks mounted on said iloor, pressure equalizing pipes connecting each jack of a row with the adjacent jacks of the r row and eachv jack of a ro-w with the correspond- 4ing jacks of the next adjacent rows, a control valve interposed in each equalizing pipe, piping supplying actuating fluid to said lacks` individually, and means to drain said jacks individually.

6. In a ship repair dock having a floor, a series of rows of spaced hydraulic jacks mounted on said floor, pressure equalizing pipes connecting each jack of a row with the adjacent jacks of the row and each jack of a row with the corresponding jacksof the next adjacent rows, a controlv valve interposed in each equalizing pipe, fluid supply piping having branches leading to each jack individually, drainage piping having branches leading from each jack individually,

f and a valve in each of said branches.

7. In a ship repair dock having a iloor, a plupipes connecting the jacks of the several rows in lateral lines and having valves interposed in the last mentioned pipes between'each jack of a row and the corresponding jack of the adjacent row, fluid supply piping having branches leading to each jack individuallydrainage piping having branches leading fromeach jack individually and a valve in each of said branches. Y

10. In a ship repair dock having a floor, a plurality of Yrows o-f spaced hydraulic jacks, said rows extending longitudinally of the lloor and the jacks of each row being transversely opposite each other, equalizing pipes connecting the jacks of each row in series and provided with `a valve between each pair cf jacks in therow, f

equalizing pipes connecting the jacks of the several rows in lateral lines and having valves interposed in the last mentioned pipes between each R jack of a row and the corresponding jack cf the adjacent row, a fluid supply pipe extending along each row of jacks, branches extending from said supply pipes individually to the jacks, a drainage each jack of a row with the adjacent jacks of Y the row and each jack of a row with the corresponding jacks of the next adjacentrows, a control valve interposed in each equalizing pipe, fluid supply piping having branches leading to each jack individually', drainage piping having branches leading from each jack individually, a

-valve in each of said branches, and a remote control for said valves. j

CARL M. ZOLL. 

